The hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal after the elephant and the rhinoceros. The name comes from Greek meaning "river horse". They are found mostly in central and southern Africa and can weigh between 1½ and 3 tonnes. Although they look very much like large pigs, their closest relatives are whales.

Hippos spend most of their time in water or mud to stay cool and keep their skin from drying out. Since their eyes, ears and nostrils are located on top of their heads, they can remain almost entirely submerged and still be able to see, hear and breathe. They can also remain under water for 3 to 5 minutes without coming up to breathe. Once the sun goes down, they emerge from the water to graze on land.

Although hippos appear placid, they are extremely aggressive animals. They are very territorial in water. They are responsible for a large number of attacks on humans, and are also feared by other animals, including lions and crocodiles. They have very large mouths with sharp teeth and enough jaw strength to bite an animal in half. Although they are mostly herbivores, some accounts of cannibalism have been documented. In spite of their size, they move with surprising speed. On land they can easily outrun a man and have been known to reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.

The hippo population all across Africa is being threatened mainly due to the lack of access to fresh water. In addition, wars in the Congo and poaching have also done considerable damage to the population that remains. They are killed because they are feared by humans and for the sale of their meat and teeth. Conservation efforts have helped maintain their numbers in other parts of the continent.

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